Checkwriter inking roll means

ABSTRACT

A machine for printing money orders and like instruments including a frame, means supported by the frame defining a printing line, type segment members supported by the frame and having printing characters positionable on the printing line, an ink box including an inking roller yieldingly urged toward the printing characters and movable into contact therewith, platen means adapted for cooperation with the printing characters, an operating member supported by the frame and movable to effect movement of the inking roller over the printing characters and movement of the platen into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between the platen and the printing characters, and a trip plate and trip pawl associated with the operating handle and adapted to prevent contact of the inking roller with the printing characters upon return movement of the inking roller to its normal position and until a subsequent printing operation is effected.

United States Patent I Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Attorney-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich, Verbeck & Wagner ABSTRACT: A machine for printing money orders and like instruments including a frame, means supported by the frame defining a printing line, type segment members supported by the frame and having printing characters positionable on the printing line, an ink box including an inking roller yieldingly urged toward the printing characters and movable into contact therewith, platen means adapted for cooperation with the printing characters, an operating member supported by the frame and movable to effect movement of the inking roller over the printing characters and movement of the platen into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between the platen and the printing characters, and a trip plate and trip pawl associated with the operating handle and adapted to prevent contact of the inking roller with the printing characters upon return movement of the inking roller to its normal position and until a subsequent printing operation is effected.

CHECKWRITER INKING ROLL MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION nesses. In many of such machines the type or printing characters are selectively positioned on the printing line of the machine and are inked by means of an inking roller which is moved to contact the printing characters on the printing line at the start of a printing operation. Generally, upon completion of a printing operation, the inking roller is returned to a normal During such return movement, the roller apin contacts the printing characters. Such contact of the inking roller with the printing characters during return to its normal position is objectionable because the roller applies to the printing characters a second coating of ink which is not used and is wasted, such second coat of ink drying on the printing characters and clogging them if further use of the machine is deferred for an appreciable length of time. In addition, contact of the inking roller with the printing characters as it is returned to its normal position tends to abrade them with resultant unnecessary wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a machine for printing money orders, checks and analogous instruments, which machine includes novel means to prevent re-inking of the printing characters upon return of the inking roller'to its normal position after having initially inked the printing characters during a printing operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine as described wherein the novel means for preventing re-inking serves to continually maintain the inking roller in spaced relation from the printing characters upon return to its normal position, such means maintaining the inking roller in such spaced relation until the operating member is actuated to effect a subsequent printing operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine as described wherein the means for preventing contact of the inking roller with the printing characters after return to its normal position includes a trip plate adapted to release the roller for pressure contact with the printing characters upon initial movement of the operating member toward its printing position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine as described including a removable indicia member supported in alignment with the printing line, and wherein the means for preventing contact of the inking roller with the printing characters upon return of the roller to its normal position includes means to selectively prevent removal of the indicia member.

In furtherance of the above objects of the present invention, I provide a checkwriter having a frame defining a rearwardly extending slot for insertion of an instrument to be printed upon, means defining a printing line spaced inwardly from the front of the slot, individually adjustable type members supported by the frame and having printing characters positionable on the printing line, a platen underlying the printing line in normally spaced relation therefrom and movable to an operative position in pressure contact with the instrument disposed between the platen and the printing characters disposed on the printing line. An operating member is supported by the frame and has a cam member connected for movement therewith between a normal rearward position and a forward position for effecting a printing operation. The cam member includes a lobe portion effective for holding the inking roller spaced from the printing characters when the operating member is in its normal position. An ink box assembly having an inking roller rotatably supported thereon is supported by arm members associated with the cam such that movement of the operating member effects selective movement of the inking roller into pressure contact with the printing characters. A trip plate is supported by the frame for pivotal movement and includes a projection adapted to prevent engagement of the inking roller with the printing characters when the inking roller and operating member are disposed in their normal positions. The trip plate has a trip pawl thereon adapted to engage the cam upon initial movement of the operating member from its normal position with the pawl serving to effect movement of the trip plate to allow engagement of the inking roller with the printing characters disposed on the printing line. Continued movement of the operating member effects movement of the platen into contact with and instrument disposed between the platen and the printing characters. Return of the operating member to its normal position effects movement of the trip plate to its normal position prior to retum of the inking roller and prevents the inking roller from contacting the printing characters prior to movement of the operating member to effect a subsequent printing operation. The trip plate includes means adapted for cooperation with the cam upon movement of the operating member to a selected position such that an indicia-carrying member supported in alignment with the printing line can be removed, the trip plate serv ing to prevent removal of the indicia-carrying member when the operating member is in its normal position and during return of the inking roller to its normal position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a checkwriter employing the present invention, with the enclosing casing removed to illustrate the novel trip plate in operative position to prevent contact of the inking roller with printing characters disposed on the printing line of the machine;

FIG. la is a partial sectional view taken along the line lala of FIG. 7 and illustrates the manner in which the ink tray is releasably secured to the ink tray supporting anns;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the checkwriter shown in FIG. I, the trip plate and associated trip pawl being illustrated in positions allowing engagement of the inking roll with printing characters disposed on the printing line;

FIG. 3 is a side view generally similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the trip plate and trip pawl as the operating handle is moved further forwardly toward its printing position;

FIG. 4 is a side view generally similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the trip plate in operative association with a cam on the operating lever such that the trip plate is maintained in a position to allow removal of an agent's slug or other identifying member disposed in alignment with the printing characters on the printing line;

FIG. 5 is a partial view generally similar to FIG. 2 showing the operating lever in its forward printing position;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view generally similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the trip pawl during return of the operating lever to its normal nonprinting position; and FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as embodied in a checkwriter generally similar to that disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,962, issued Jan. 10, 1967, and the checkwriter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,697,981, issued Dec. 28,1954, to Arthur G. Rindfleisch. As will be more fully described hereinbelow, my invention embodies certain improvements over the aforementioned patents and may be used with any other suitable checkwriters or analogous machines.

Referring now to the drawings, l have illustrated my invention in combination with a checkwriter, indicated generally at 10, for printing money orders and the like instruments. The

checkwriter comprises a frame including upstanding sideplates 12 and 14 (FIG. 7) secured together in parallel spaced relation by cross rods 16 in a known manner. The sideplates l2 and are of irregular polygonal shape and are provided with forwardly extending base elements which define with the upper portions a rearwardly extending opening or slot 18 to receive a check blank or analogous instrument to be printed upon, as is known. An enclosing casing (not shown) is conventionally adapted to be secured to the checkwriter frame as through attaching bosses l9 fixed to the outer surface of the sideplate 12. The enclosing casing is adapted to enclose the frame structure and working elements of the checkwriter, the lower portion of the casing enclosing the sideplate portions below the slot 18 providing a support platform or work surface along which the check blanks are moved during insertion into the slot for printing.

Noting FIG. 7, a cross-shaft 20 is mounted on and between the spaced sideplates l2 and 14 by means of reduced studs (not shown) at its opposite ends providing shoulders abutting the inner faces of the sideplates and restraining the cross-shaft against endwise movement. A plurality of type segment members 22 are mounted upon the cross-shaft 20 for individual rotation or turning movement thereon and are maintained in spaced relation on the shaft by spacing collars in a known manner. Each of the type segment members 22 includes an arcuate-type bar 24 having upon its peripheral printing face a series of printing characters selectively positionable through finger grips 26 (FIG. I) operatively associated with the type segment members to position the printing characters on a printing line of the checkwriter as will be more fully described hereinbelow. The leftmost group of five type segment members 22 may comprise the dollar and cents printing characters, while the rightmost group of type segment members may comprise printing characters for printing an identifying serial number or like information on the check blank. The number of type segment members 22 selected for use in the checkwriter 10 may be varied as desired, the number of type segment members employed having no bearing upon my present invention. A sum" bar 28 is mounted at its upper end upon cross'shaft 20 and is secured at its lower end to a guide bar (not shown) extending transversely of the main frame defined by the upstanding sideplates I2 and 14. A prefix plate 30 is slidably mounted on the lower end of the sum bar 28 and bears on its lower or printing face a suitable legend such as "The sum. During a printing operation, plate 30 is moved inwardly to a position abutting the first or nearest one of the dollar-printing segment members 22 then in printing position in a manner more fully described in the above-referenced Rindfleisch patent. A depending arm member 32 is suitably mounted on the cross-shaft 20 to allow rotation of the crossshaft and has a lower end portion 33 secured in fixed alignment on the printing line and adapted to receive thereon an agent's slug 34 having identifying printing indicia on the lower printing surface thereof. The slug 34 is removably secured to the lower end 33 of arm 32 and has an outwardly extending grip portion 36 to allow ready insertion and removal from the checkwriter as will be more fully described hereinbelow. The type segment members 22 may be individually adjusted such that selected of the printing characters are positioned in alignment with the printing characters on the prefix plate 30 and the agent's slug 34 and define with the-last-mentioned printing characters a printing line for the checkwriter l0.

Noting FIG. 1, taken in conjunction with FIG. 7, operating lever means including an operating member or lever 44 having a conventional handle portion (not shown) on the outer end is recured ln fixed relation to the outer end of a bushing 48 which in rotatably mounted on a stub shaft (not shown) secured to and projecting outwardly in normal relation from the sideplate 12 In a manner as described more fully in the above-referenced Rlndfieiach patent. The operating lever 44 is retained on the bushing 48 through a capnut 50 and spring washer 52. In this manner. the operating lever 44 may be turned or rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, from a normal rearward nonprinting position to a forward printing position. The operating lever means includes a cam 54 which is suitably secured to the bushing 48 in generally normal relation to the axis of rotation of the bushing such that movement of the operating lever 44 effects a corresponding movement of the cam. The plane of cam 54 is spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the sideplate 12.

An operating link 56 is pivotally connected at its forward end through pivot pin 58 to the lower forward portion of the inner side of cam 54. The rearward end of link 56 is pivotally connected to a cross pintle 60 which forms a part of a toggle link assembly, indicated generally at 62. The toggle link assembly 62 includes an upper transverse leaf 64 pivotally supported between the upstanding sideplates l2 and 14 through outwardly extending bosses 66 received through appropriate apertures in the sideplates. The lower end of the toggle leaf 64 is pivotally connected to the cross-shaft 60. A pair of spaced links 68 (FIG. 1) are connected to the opposite ends of the cross-shaft 60 through lost motion connections and have their ends opposite the cross-shaft 60 pivotally connected to the rearward end portions of corresponding platen support arms 70 through pins 72. The platen support arms 70 are rockably mounted on a cross-shaft 74 extending between and mounted at its opposite ends in the lower portions of the spaced sideplates 12 and 14. The platen support arms 70 serve to support a platen 76 on the forwardmost ends thereof, the platen extending generally transversely of the frame defined by the sideplates 12 and 14 in a known manner. The opposite outer end portions of the cross-shaft 60 are received within parallel oppositely disposed arcuate slots 78 such that forward movement of the operating lever 44 effects rocking movement of the platen support arms 70 and upward movement of the platen 76 into engagement with an instrument disposed between the platen and the printing characters positioned on the printing line of the checkwriter, as is known. Means (not shown) are conventionally provided for normally holding the toggle link assembly 62, is a folded or retracted position wherein the rearward ends of the platen support arms 70 are disposed in a raised position and the platen 76 is disposed in a lower or inoperative position.

A pair of spaced parallel inking arms 80 and 82 are secured on the cross-shaft 20, one arm adjacent the inner face of each of the upstanding sideplates l2 and 14, respectively. The inking arms 80 and 82 are similar and extend downwardly and forwardly from the shaft 20 as well as rearwardly thereof, though it is not necessary that arm 82 extend rearwardly of the shaft 20 as will become more apparent below. Noting FIG. 1, taken in conjunction with FIGS. Iaand 7, each of the inking arms 80 and 82 has an ink tray supporting or carrying arm 84 pivotally connected to its inner surface at 86. Each of the ink tray supporting arms 84 includes a depending portion having a forward portion 88 and a rearwardly extending portion 90. A pair of parallel cross rods 92 are fixedly secured between the spaced ink tray supporting arms 84 to maintain the depending portions thereof in fixed spaced relation. The forward portion 88 of each ink tray supporting arm 84 has a slot 94 provided therein to receive the outer end portion of a cross rod 96 car ried by and between upstanding end walls 98 of an ink box or tray, indicated generally at 100. Each of the rearwardly extending portions of the ink tray supporting arms 84 has a slot 102 therein to receive an outer end portion of a cross rod 104 which is removably and rotatably secured to the upstanding end walls 98 of the ink tray 100. The cross rod 104 carries a longitudinally extending conventional inking roller 106 which, with the cross rod 104, is rotatable relative to the ink tray 100.

Preferably, one of the end walls 98 is provided with a slot to receive the cross rod 104 therein, the opposite end wall having an aperture therethrough to receive the corresponding end of the rod whereby the cross rod may be removed from the ink tray for cleaning or replacement.

A cylindrical roller 108 is secured to the outer end of the cross rod 104 adjacent the sideplate 12 of the checkwriter frame such that the roller engages a cam surface 110 on the sideplate 12 in rolling relation during movement of the ink tray 100 as will be described more fully hereinbelow. With the ink tray supporting arms 84 having configurations as described, the cros rod 104 carried by the ink tray may be readily received within the slots 102 of the ink tray supporting anns with the cross rod 96 being received within the slots 94. Referring to FIGS. la and 7, means are provided to releasably retain the ink box 100 on the ink tray support arms 84. Such means comprises a pair of spaced hooks 112 formed integral with and in normal relation to the plane of a thumb plate 114. The hook portions 112 have apertures therein to slidably receive the cm rod 96 therethrough prior to securing the cross rod to the ink tray 100 such that the thumb plate and hook portions are pivotal about the cross rod. A coil torsion spring 116 is supported about the cross rod 96 between the spaced hook portions 1 12 in a manner to urge the hooked portions and thumb plate in a counterclockwise direction, as considered in FIG. 1a, with the lower portion of the thumb plate engaging a rearward wall 118 on the ink tray to limit the extent of rotational movement of the thumb plate and thereby the hook portions Snap rings 119 on the cross rod 96 retain the hooks 112 against lateral movement on the rod. The configuration of the hook portions 112 on the thumb plate 114 and the axis of rotation of the thumb plate are such that when the cross rods 96 and 104 are received within the slots 94 and 102, respectively, the hook portions 112 will engage the cross rod 92 and retain the ink tray 100 in assembled relation on the ink tray support arms 84 for movement therewith.

Each of the ink tray support arms 84 has an upwardly extending portion 120 having an upper end surface adapted for selective engagement with a stop pin 122 fixed to the corresponding inking arm 80 and 82. The upper end surfaces of the upwardly extending portions 120 of the ink tray support arms 84 and their corresponding stop pins 122 are such that upward movement of the inking roller 106 may be limited by the stop pins if the ink roller is released for upward movement when there are no printing characters disposed on the printing line of the checkwriter. A pair of coil tension springs 124 have their ends com'iected between suitable pins on the opposed pairs of inking arms 80, 82 and associated ink tray support arms 84 so as to urge the ink tray supporting arms in a counterclockwise direction about their pivotal connections 86 when considered in FIG. 1.

The inking arm 80 adjacent the upstanding sideplate 12 of the checkwriter frame includes a rearwardly extending portion 126 having an outwardly directed pin 128 secured in normal relation thereto. The pin 128 is received through an arcuate slot 130 in the sideplate l2 and through an arcuate slot 132 in cam 54. The arcuate slots 130 and 132 are so positioned that when the operating lever 44 is moved forwardly, the ink tray 100 and inking roller 106 will be moved forwardly as more fully described below.

The cam 54 has a lobe portion 140 thereon adapted to engage a slightly increased diameter outer end portion 142 (FIG. 7) of the roller 108 and hold the inking roller 106 out of contact with the printing characters disposed on the printing line of the checkwriter when the operating lever 44 is in its rearward nonprinting position. The cam 54 and lobe 140 provide a first means operatively associated with the operating lever 44 for holding the inking roller in a normal position spaced from the printing characters when the operating member is in its normal nonprinting position. As described above, the cam 54 isrotatable with the operating lever 44 such that upon initial forward movement of the operating lever toward a printing position. the lobe 140 is removed from its holding position with the roller 108 thereby allowing movement of the inking roller into pressure contact with the printing characters disclosed on the printing line. An appropriately disposed notch or relief 141 is provided in the sideplate 12 to allow such upward movement of the roller 108 and correspondingly the ink ing roller 106 during inking of the printing characters as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

The checkwriter 10 includes means, indicated generally at 146, operatively associated with the cam 54 and the operating lever 44 to prevent contact of the inking roller 106 with the printing characters disposed on the printing line of the checkwriter during return of the operating lever to its normal nonprinting position following a printing operation. The means 146 also serves to maintain the inking roller 106 spaced from the printing characters until the operating lever 44 is again moved toward a printing position during a subsequent printing operation. The means 146 for selectively preventing inking of the printing characters includes a trip plate 148 rotatably supported on an outer reduced diameter end portion 150 of the cross-shaft 20 adjacent the outer surface of the sideplate 12, and a trip pawl 152 rotatably supported on the trip plate 148 through a stub shaft 154. The trip plate 148 is retained on the shaft end 150 through a suitable snap washer 151 and the trip pawl 152 is retained on the stub shaft 154 by a suitable snap washer 156. The trip plate 148 is urged in a counterclockwise rotational direction, considered in Fig. 1, about the pivot axis 150 by a coil tension spring 158 having one end attached to a pin 160 on the trip plate and the opposite end attached to a pin 162 secured to the sideplate 12. The extent of counterclockwise rotation of the trip plate 148 is limited by a stop pin or boss 164 secured to the outer face of the sideplate 12 and received through a circular opening 166 in the trip plate 148. The opening 166 is of a size and location such that the peripheral edge defining the opening engages the pin 164 and limits counterclockwise rotation of the trip plate to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The trip plate 148 includes a downwardly and rearwardly extending finger portion 168 having a lower edge surface 170 adapted to engage the cylindrical roller 108 and prevent upward movement of the inking roller 106 when the trip plate and ink tray 100 are disposed in their normal positions as illustrated in H6. 1. The planar configuration of the rearwardly extending finger portion 168 is such as to allow the finger portion to move to its rearward home position as illustrated in FIG. 1 without engaging or interfering with the extending grip portion 36 of the agent's slug 34.

The trip pawl 152 is urged in 'a clockwise rotational direction, considered in FIG. 1, about the axis of stub shaft 154 by a coil tension spring 172 having one end attached to the trip pawl through a stepped connecting pin 174 and the opposite end attached to the trip plate 148 through a stepped connecting pin 176 secured in normal relation to the trip plate. The trip pawl 152 includes a projection 178 adapted to engage the pin 176 and limit the extent of the clockwise rotation of the trip pawl, the location of the projection 178 being such as to establish a normal home position for the trip pawl as shown in FIG. 1. The trip pawl further includes an extending arm portion 180 which has a generally semicircular peripheral edge surface and extends rearwardly when the trip plate 148 is in its normal home position. The arm portion 180 of the trip pawl extends rearwardly a distance sufficient to be selectively engaged by a roller 182 which is rotatably mounted on a plate 184 suitably fixedly secured to or formed integral with the cam 54. In this manner, the plate 84 and roller 182 also comprise portions of the operating lever means. The planar configuration of the trip plate 148 is such that the roller 182 will not directly engage the trip plate during movement of the operating lever 44 from its normal nonprinting position to its fully forward printing position, nor during return to its nonprinting position.

A roller 186 is rotatably supported on the trip plate 148 through a headed stub shah 188 secured in normal relation to the trip plate. The roller 186 is adapted to be engaged by a cam edge surface 190 on cam 54 during a portion of the rotation of cam 54 so as to effect selected clockwise rotation of trip plate 148 upon movement of the operating lever 44 toward its printing position as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

Referring to FIGS. 11-6 which illustrate the relative positions of operating lever 44, cam 54, roller 108 associated with inking roller 106, roller 182 associated with cam 54, trip plate 148 and rip pawl 152 during a printing cycle, the operation of cheekwriter 10 will now be briefly described. As noted above, when the operating lever 44 is disposed in its rearward nonprinting position, the lobe 140 of cam 54 engages the roller 108 and prevents upward movement of the inking roller 106 into engagement with the printing characters disposed on the printing line, the inking tray assembly 100 being positioned in its normal rearward position. In this nonprinting position, the rearwardly extending finger portion 168 of the trip plate 148 is in a position such that the edge surface 170 also engages the roller 108 to prevent upward movement of the inking roller into pressure contact with the printing characters on the printing line. Without referring to the operation of the toggle link assembly 62 and the corresponding upward movement of the platen 76 during printing of an instrument disposed within the slot 18 of the checkwriter, which platen movement is known, initial movement of the operating lever 44 toward a forward printing position rotates the cam 54 to release the lobe 140 from contact with the roller 108. During initial movement of the operating lever, the extending finger portion 168 of the trip plate 148 maintains the inking roller 106 spaced from the printing characters until the roller 182 on the plate 184 engages the rearwardly extending arm portion 180 of the trip pawl 152. As the roller 182 engages the arm portion 180 of the trip pawl, illustrated in FIG. 2, the trip plate 148 is rotated in a clockwise direction due to engagement of the trip pawl projection 178 with pin 176 on the trip plate and the resulting forward movement of the trip pawl. Such rotational movement of the trip plate 148 removes the finger portion 168 from blocking engagement with the roller 108 and allows the spring 124 to move the inking roller 106 upwardly into pressure contact with the printing characters disposed on the printing line.

As the operating lever 44 is moved further forwardly toward its printing position, the inking arms 80 are rotated in a clockwise direction about the cross-shaft 20 due to the pin 128 in arm portion 126 being received within arcuate slots 130, 132 in the cam 54 and sideplate 12, respectively. Such rotational movement of the inking arms 80 effects a forward movement of the inking tray support arms 84 and, correspondingly, a forward movement of the inking tray assembly 100. As the inking tray assembly 100 is moved forwardly, the inking roller 106 inks the printing characters on the printing line as shown in FIG. 3 with the roller 108 engaging the rearward end of finger portion 168 to urge the trip plate forwardly. Further forward movement of arms 80 causes the roller 108 to engage the cam surface 110 on the upstanding sideplate 12 and move the inking roller 106 downwardly away from the printing characters. During the last-mentioned forward movement of the roller 108 into engagement with cam surface 110, the trip plate 148 is released to return to its normal home position. Forward movement of the operating lever 44 to a position as illustrated in FIG. 4 establishes engagement of the cam edge surface 190 of cam 54 with the roller 186 on the trip plate 148 to efi'ect clockwise rotational movement of the trip plate and again move the finger portion 168 of the trip plate forwardly away from side overlying relation to the notch or relief 141 in the sideplate 12. With the operating lever 44 dispomd in such a position, the agents slug 34 may be readily removed from the slug-supporting arm 32 to allow replacement of the slug as when a different operator is to operate the checkwriter.

FIG. 5 illustrates the checkwriter with the operating lever in its forwardmost printing position. in this position, the platen 76 has been moved into pressure contact with an instrument disposed in the slot 18 of the checkwriter to effect imprinting of the inked printing characters on the instrument in a known manner. With the operating lever in its forward printing position, the trip plate 148 will have returned to its home position due to disengagement of the cam edge surface 190 of cam 54 with the roller 186. Simultaneously, the pin 128 on the arm portion 126 of the inking arm 80 will have entered a lower arcuate portion of the slot 132, the lower arcuate portion being such as to maintain the inking tray assembly in its forwardmost position while an instrument is being engaged by the platen 76. During return of the operating lever 44 to its rearward nonprinting position, the cam edge surface 190 on cam 54 again engages the roller 86, such engagement being terminated prior to return of the inking tray assembly 100 to its normal rearward position so that the finger portion 168 on trip plate 148 is returned to its home position prior to return of the roller 108 to a position underlying the relief 141 in sideplate 12. Upon movement of the operating lever 44 to its full rearward nonprinting position, the roller 108 engages the edge surface 170 of the trip plate finger portion 168 after engagement with the cam edge surface of sideplate 12 such that the inking roller 106 is held in spaced relation below the printing characters until the operating lever is again moved forwardly to effect a subsequent printing operation.

Having thus described the components comprising the checkwriter l0, and in particular my means 146 for preventing engagement of the inking roller with printing characters disposed on the printing line after initial inking and thereafter maintaining the inking roller in spaced relation from the printing characters until a subsequent printing operation is effected, it can be seen that the cam 54 and its associated lobe provides a means for holding the inking roller 106 in a normal position spaced from the printing characters disposed on the printing line of the checkwriter only when the operating lever is in its normal rearward position. The cam means 54 is movable with movement of the operating lever to allow movement of the inking roller 106 into pressure contact with the printing characters during initial movement of the operating lever from its normal nonprinting position. The ink tray assembly 100 and the associated ink tray support arms 84 and inking arms 80, in conjunction with the toggle link assembly 62, provide means associated with the operating lever for moving the inking roller over the printing characters in pressure contact therewith and clear of the printing characters and the platen means and thereafter moving the platen means 76 into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between the platen and the printing characters during continued forward movement of the operating lever 44 toward its printing position. It can be seen that the last-mentioned means is adapted to return the inking roller to its normal home position during return movement of the operating lever to its normal nonprinting position. The trip plate 148 and associated trip pawl 152 provide means associated with the operating lever through cam 54 and roller 182 for preventing contact of the inking roller 106 with the printing characters disposed on the printing line during return of the operating lever 44 to its normal nonprinting position and maintaining the inking roller spaced from the printing characters until the operating lever is again moved forwardly to effect a subsequent printing operation.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention in its broader aspects.

In the claims:

1. in a machine for printing money orders and like instruments, the combination comprising, a frame, means defining a printing line, type segment members supported by said frame and having printing characters positionable on said printing line, inking roller means normally spaced from said printing line and movable into contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line, platen means supported by said frame and adapted for cooperation with said printing characters, operating lever means supported by said frame and including an operating lever having a normal nonprinting position and being movable to a printing position for effecting a printing operation, means associated with said operating lever and said inking roller means for moving said inking roller means over said printing characters in pressure contact therewith and clear of said printing characters and said platen means and thereafter moving said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and printing characters disposed on said printing line during continued movement of said operating lever from its normal position, said means for moving said inking roller means being adapted to return said inking roller means to its normal position in the return movement of said operating lever to its normal position, trip plate means supported by said frame and including finger portion means engageable with said inking roller means to prevent contact of said inking roller means with said printing characters during return of said operating lever to its normal position and maintain said inking roller means spaced from said printing characters until said operating lever is movedto effect a subsequent printing operation, said trip plate means being engageable by said operating lever mans for releasing said inking roller means when said operating lever is moved toward its printing position, and means for returning 'said trip plate means to a position preventing contact of said inking roller means with said printing characters during return of said operating lever to its nonprinting podtion.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said trip plate means comprises a trip plate rotatably supported by said frame, said trip plate having said finger portion means thereon to prevent contact of said inking roller with said printing characters when said trip plate is in a first position, said trip plate being movable to a second position allowing movement of said inking roller into pressure contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line in response to movement of said operating lever toward its printing position.

3. Die combination as defined in claim 2 including spring means urging said trip plate toward said first position.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said trip plate means includes a trip pawl engageable by said operating lever means such that initial movement of said operating lever toward its printing position will effect movement of said trip plate means to said second position allowing movement of said inking roller into pressure contact with said printing characters.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said trip pawl m mounted on said trip plate and is selectively engageable by said operating lever means during movement of said operating lever toward its printing position, said trip pawl being relemable from engagement with said operating lever means when said operating lever reaches its printing position to allow return of said trip plate to said first position wherein said finger portion prevents contract of said inking roller with said printing characters.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes means for maintaining said inking roller in spaced relation from said printing characters during movement of said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and said printing characters.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said trip pawl is line and movable into contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line, platen means supported by said frame and adapted for cooperation with said printing characters, operating lever means including an operating lever supported by said frame and having a normal nonprinting position and being movable to a printing position for effecting a printing operation, means associated with said operating lever and said inking rol ler means for moving said inking roller means over said printing characters rn pressure contact therewith and clear of said printing characters and said platen means and thereafter moving said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and printing characters disposed on said printing line during continued movement of said operating lever from its normal position, said means for moving said inking roller means being adapted to return said inking roller means to its normal position in the return movement of said operating lever to its normal position, means including a trip plate for preventing contact of said inking roller means with said printing characters during return of said operating lever to its normal position and maintaining said inking roller means spaced from said printing characters until said operating lever is moved to efiect a subsequent printing operau'on, said trip plate being rotatably supported by said frame and having a finger portion adapted to prevent contact of said inking roller with said printing characters when said trip plate is in a first position, said trip plate being engageable with said operating lever means such that movement of said operating lever toward its printing position will effect movement of said trip plate to a position allowing movement of said inking roller into pressure contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line, and an indicia-carrying slug removably supported on said printing line, said trip plate being engageable with said slug to prevent removal of said slug when said operating lever is in its nonprinting position and during movement of said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and said printing characters, said operating lever having cam means associated therewith for selective engagement with said trip plate to allow removal of said slug upon movement of said inking roller means to a position clear of said printing characters and when said platen means is not in pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and said printing characters. 

1. In a machine for printing money orders and like instruments, the combination comprising, a frame, means defining a printing line, type segment members supported by said frame and having printing characters positionable on said printing line, inking roller means normally spaced from said printing line and movable into contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line, platen means supported by said frame and adapted for cooperation with said printing characters, operating lever means supported by said frame and including an operating lever having a normal nonprinting position and being movable to a printing position for effecting a printing operation, means associated with said operating lever and said inking roller means for moving said inking roller means over said printing characters in pressure contact therewith and clear of said printing characters and said platen means and thereafter moving said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and printing characters disposed on said printing line during continued movement of said operating lever from its normal position, said means for moving said inking roller means being adapted to return said inking roller means to its normal position in the return movement of said operating lever to its normal position, trip plate means supported by said frame and including finger portion means engageable with said inking roller means to prevent contact of said inking roller means with said printing characters during return of said operating lever to its normal position and maintain said inking roller means spaced from said printing characters until said operating lever is moved to effect a subsequent printing operation, said trip plate means being engageable by said operating lever mans for releasing said inking roller means when said operating lever is moved toward its printing position, and means for returning said trip plate means to a position preventing contact of said inking roller means with said printing characters during return of said operating lever to its nonprinting position.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said trip plate means comprises a trip plate rotatably supported by said frame, said trip plate having said finger portion means thereon to prevent contact of said inking roller with said printing characters when said trip plate is in a first position, said trip plate being movable to a second position allowing movement of said inking roller into pressure contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line in response to movement of said operating lever toward its printing position.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 2 including spring means urging said trip plate toward said first position.
 4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said trip plate means includes a trip pawl engageable by said operating lever means such that initial movement of said operating lever toward its printing position will effect movement of said trip plate means to said second position allowing movement of said inking roller into pressure contact with said printing characters.
 5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said trip pawl is mounted on said trip plate and is selectively engageable by said operating lever means during movement of said operating lever toward its printing position, said trip pawl being releasable from engagement with said operating lever means when said operating lever reaches its printing position to allow return of said trip plate to said first position wherein said finger portion prevents contract of said inking roller with said printing characters.
 6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes means for maintaining said inking roller in spaced relation from said printing characters during movement of said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and said printing characters.
 7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said trip pawl is rotatably supported by said trip plate, said trip plate including means to limit rotational movement of said trip pawl, and including means urging said trip pawl against said limiting means.
 8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said frame includes means to limit rotational movement of said trip plate.
 9. In a machine for printing money orders and like instruments, the combination comprising, a frame, means defining a printing line, type segment members supported by said frame and having printing characters positionable on said printing line, inking roller means normally spaced from said printing line and movable into contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line, platen means supported by said frame and adapted for cooperation with said printing characters, operating lever means including an operating lever supported by said frame and having a normal nonprinting position and being movable to a printing position for effecting a printing operation, means associated with said operating lever and said iNking roller means for moving said inking roller means over said printing characters in pressure contact therewith and clear of said printing characters and said platen means and thereafter moving said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and printing characters disposed on said printing line during continued movement of said operating lever from its normal position, said means for moving said inking roller means being adapted to return said inking roller means to its normal position in the return movement of said operating lever to its normal position, means including a trip plate for preventing contact of said inking roller means with said printing characters during return of said operating lever to its normal position and maintaining said inking roller means spaced from said printing characters until said operating lever is moved to effect a subsequent printing operation, said trip plate being rotatably supported by said frame and having a finger portion adapted to prevent contact of said inking roller with said printing characters when said trip plate is in a first position, said trip plate being engageable with said operating lever means such that movement of said operating lever toward its printing position will effect movement of said trip plate to a position allowing movement of said inking roller into pressure contact with printing characters disposed on said printing line, and an indicia-carrying slug removably supported on said printing line, said trip plate being engageable with said slug to prevent removal of said slug when said operating lever is in its nonprinting position and during movement of said platen means into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and said printing characters, said operating lever having cam means associated therewith for selective engagement with said trip plate to allow removal of said slug upon movement of said inking roller means to a position clear of said printing characters and when said platen means is not in pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and said printing characters. 